How much of this can be AGR?

[zephyr17]

When Via runs a 50% off sale again that covers Fall dates, I am planning to do a Toronto Vancouver trip, as I went Vancouver-Toronto last year. In order to get to eastern Canada from Seattle I am planning to go SEA-LAX-CHI-NYP-(MTR/TWO).

So far I haven't been a big AGR player, so don't know all the nuances that some of you do.

I have 42,000 points, enough for a 3-zone roomette award at 35K. Was planning to grab the award for LAX-NYP via the SWC and LSL. Buy a roomette on the Starlight SEA-LAX and layover one night in LA to get the SWC the next day and buy a ticket on either the Adirondack to MTR or the Maple Leaf to TWO. Planning a few days in NY, so I guess the final leg into Canada is on my own dime no matter what. As well as the final leg VAC-SEA on the Cascades.

I don't think I can include SEA-LAX in award travel because of the of the layover. Are there any other suggestions to maximize use? I don't want to use the Empire Builder for this trip. I am not a big fan of that route although I use it quite a bit. I am a fan of the Starlight and the SWC. Also this may be my opportunity to ride it again before it gets rerouted away from Raton Pass.

Finally, any thoughts on the Adirondack versus the Maple Leaf? I haven't ridden either of them, and I can easily catch a Via corridor train betwen Montreal and Toronto the morning of 1's departure.

Thanks.

 

[Anthony]

Having taken both several times, the Adirondack is probably the better trip! Easier customs situation, better scenery, no change of crews, etc.

 

[the_traveler]

Of the 3 international routes on Amtrak (Cascade, Maple Leaf and Adirondack), the Cascade and Adirondack are totally operated by Amtrak. These can be booked for the full route using AGR.

The Maple Leaf is an Amtrak train as far as Niagara Falls. From there to TWO, it is a VIA Rail train. Thus you can only use AGR for the US portion, and must pay for the Canadian part of the ML.

 

[pennyk]

I think the Adirondack is more scenic, but it does not have business class, whereas the Maple Leaf does (to the Canadian border).

In December, I took an AGR trip from ORL-NYP-MTR. At first the agent said I could not include MTR in my 1 zone reward, but then she put me on hold and spoke to a supervisor and who approved adding MTR to my reservation. It should be noted that I only spent one night in New York and was on the next train to MTR. I think I had a good agent - since she, on her own, tried to extend my AGR reward to Montreal. I was very pleased and a bit surprised.

 

[TimePeace]

Sounds like a good trip.

I am great believer of the concept that the 2 zone sleeper trip is the best use of points, so on your return trip SEA-NYP (or as you say, maybe LAX-NYP), what is the last stop in zone 2? On the LSL is it TOL and it is not so bad to go coach TOL to BOS (or in your case NYP) from there. That saves you 15K points!

 

[Anthony]

Montreal is within the Eastern Region/Northeast Zone and is perfectly acceptable as an AGR award city. Only the Maple Leaf can't be ticketed beyond Niagara Falls, ON on AGR points due to the VIA segment (VIA wants their revenue, not a free ticket!)

I do agree with you on business class -- the club dinette seating on the ML is a nice, comfortable way to ride through upstate NY.

 

[Shanghai]

I don't understand that from Toronto to Niagara Falls, ON is a VIA train.

Are you required to detrain from a VIA and then board an Amtrak train in Niagara Falls, ON?

Are you required to purchase two tickets to travel from Toronto to New York - one from

Toronto to Niagara Falls, ON and another from Niagara Falls, ON to New York, NY?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I don't understand that from Toronto to Niagara Falls, ON is a VIA train.Are you required to detrain from a VIA and then board an Amtrak train in Niagara Falls, ON?

Are you required to purchase two tickets to travel from Toronto to New York - one from

Toronto to Niagara Falls, ON and another from Niagara Falls, ON to New York, NY?

I think, from what I've read on here in the past, you stay on the train, but the crew changes from Amtrak crew to VIA crew.

 

[pennyk]

I don't understand that from Toronto to Niagara Falls, ON is a VIA train.Are you required to detrain from a VIA and then board an Amtrak train in Niagara Falls, ON?

Are you required to purchase two tickets to travel from Toronto to New York - one from

Toronto to Niagara Falls, ON and another from Niagara Falls, ON to New York, NY?

It is on the same equipment, but the crew changes. When I took the Maple Leaf from NYP to TWO, I purchased the ticket from Amtrak, but I believe there were either 2 tickets or it showed 2 segments. I was in BC only to the border on the Amtrak portion, but after I got back from Canadian customs, were we permitted to go back and sit in the same car (even though it was not technically BC any more).

 

[Bob Dylan]

I don't understand that from Toronto to Niagara Falls, ON is a VIA train.Are you required to detrain from a VIA and then board an Amtrak train in Niagara Falls, ON?

Are you required to purchase two tickets to travel from Toronto to New York - one from

Toronto to Niagara Falls, ON and another from Niagara Falls, ON to New York, NY?

Penny has it Correct Dick! And the BC Fare from Toronto to the Border (Niagara Falls, ON) is only $1 even though Technically, as Penny says, its Not Biz Class but the Cafe Attendant has Canadian Snacks and Beverages for Sale which is changed out @ the Border when it becomes an Amtrak Train and the Cafe/Biz Class car becomes Biz Class American Style! :wacko: (Vice Versa going North) Also Customs and Immigration checks the Biz Class Pax First and don't seem to be as Picky as they do to the Coach Folks! The Trip I'm taking on the Maple Leaf in a Couple of Weeks from TW0-SDY is an e-ticket sent out via e-mail!